DEA Special Agent Arrested on Bribery and Drug Conspiracy Charges

LITTLE ROCK—Cody Hiland, United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, announced today’s arrest of Nathan Koen, 42, of Conway, on federal bribery and drug conspiracy charges.

Koen, who had worked in the Drug Enforcement Administration’s Little Rock Field Office as a group supervisor since September 2016, was arrested on a federal complaint charging him with accepting bribes in connection with his duties, and for being part of a conspiracy to distribute controlled substances. Koen appeared before United States Magistrate Judge Beth Deere Tuesday afternoon and was detained following his initial appearance.

According to the federal complaint charging him, Koen accepted multiple cash payments from a known drug dealer from 2016 to 2018, in exchange for providing information which assisted the drug dealer’s criminal activities.

The bribery crime with which Koen is charged is punishable by up to 15 years’ imprisonment, while the drug distribution charge is punishable by up to life in prison. Assistant United States Attorneys Benecia Moore and Chris Givens are prosecuting the case, which is being investigated by the FBI.

A complaint contains only allegations. A defendant is presumed innocent unless and until proven guilty.

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This news release, as well as additional information about the office of the United States Attorney for the Eastern District of Arkansas, is available on-line at

http://www.justice.gov/edar
Twitter: @EDARNEWS